Leading uveitis specialists from India and abroad congregated at the 9th annual meeting of the Uveitis Society of India (USI) to discuss Uveitis at great depths. Hosted from December 4-6, 2009 by Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai, the meeting deliberated on the various challenges faced by specialists from the field.

Inaugurating the function, P. Balaram, Director, Indian Institute of Science, emphasized on the need for science, engineering and medicine to work in close quarters to push the frontiers of scientific research in to modern medicine. He called for the establishment of institutions that will provide a platform for clinicians, scientists and engineers to join forces on common problems.

The three-day event saw an array of presentations being made by ophthalmologists highlighting the latest in Uveitis. Dr. John Kempen, spoke on the ‘Global epidemiology of Uveitis’ while Dr. Narsing Rao delivered a talk on the “Strengths and weaknesses of diagnostic tools for tuberculous uveitis.” Dr. Manfred Zierhut spoke on the Patient interest Association in Europe.

Sankara Nethralaya doctors from the Uvea department and other specialities as well as research fellows and post graduate students made presentations at the event.

Praising Sankara Nethralaya and its remarkable growth, Dr. Balram said the institution had demonstrated what could be achieved in difficult Indian conditions and it was possible for clinical care and research to prosper under one roof.

Chairman Emeritus, Dr. SS Badrinath released an information book on uveitis at the inaugural function and Dr. Narsing Rao, chief patron of USI, released a manual of ocular pathology.

Dr. Narsing Rao described the event as a “unique and enriching experience for uveitis specialists from India and abroad to discuss uveitis” as it provided a platform for “thought provoking discussions on the diagnosis and treatment” and the need for collective and informed action to address the issues raised from the deliberations.

He lauded the “outstanding efforts” of the Sankara Nethralaya staff in organizing a “superb meeting.”